Stair rail mounting post with lighting fixtures



May 30, 1967 J. c. CONRADT 3,321,375

STAIR RAIL MOUNTING POST WITH LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 May 30, 1967 .1. c. CONRADT 393219875 STAIR RAIL MOUNTINGPOST WITH LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet UnitedStates Patent C) Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 461,524 6 Claims. (Cl.52-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building structure for a stair wellincluding a hollow mounting post, lighting fixtures and hand railmounted on the lighting post and conductors for the lighting fixturesmounted within the posts. The post is formed in part by a cap which isremovable for access to its interior.

This invention relates to a post for mounting stair rails and lightfixtures in a stairway of the multi-storied buildmg.

The present practice of mounting light fixtures in stairways ofapartment and ofiice buildings and the like is laborious and expensive.The steps include installing a junction box to each floor andintermediate landing to which the light fixture will be attached;mounting conduit in the form of pipe vertically in the wall formingportion of the building; and connecting conduit horizontally be tweenthe vertical conduit and the boxes. The conduit is then encased inconcrete and plastered in the usual manner. The process outlined aboveis repeated for each floor of the building. After all of the conduit isinstalled and covered with concrete, cable is snaked through thevertical and horizontal conduit to bring it out into the junction boxes.The fixtures are wired in and attached to the boxes. Any time afterinstallation that electrical repairs are required or a rewiring isnecessary, the conductors must again be snaked through the vertical andhorizontal sections of the conduit.

One objective of the invention has been to provide a structure whichvastly simplifies the installation of electrical light fixtures as wellas the maintainance of them and which disposes those light fixtures in aposition where they are most useful; namely, in a position in which theythrow the major portion of their light on the top and bottom steps ofeach flight while, of course, lighting the rest of the stairs.

The installation of stair rails is also expensive, a substantial portionof the cost of installing stair rails being derived from the laborrequired to effect their installation. The stair rails are normallymounted on two to four posts for each flight (from floor to landing orlanding to floor) and each of those posts is anchored by two fastenerswhich requires drilling, tapping or placing of inserts into the concretewhich forms the stairway. The installation of the inserts in the stairwell for mounting the posts and the attachment of post mounting bracketsto those inserts must be done with considerable care for otherwise theposts will be misaligned and the stair rail will tend to have a warpednonuniform appearance. It is in this mounting of the posts to the stairwell that much of the labor cost in installing the stair well isinvolved.

It has been an objective of the invention to provide a rail mountingstructure which greatly simplifies the installation of the stair rails.It is a further objective of this invention that this structure by whichthe mounting of the stair rails is simplified performs the functions ofa mounting post for electrical light fixtures and of conduit forcarrying the cable to the light fixtures.

More specifically, the invention comprises a hollow rail mounting postwhich is adapted to extend continuously from the bottom to the top floorof the building, that post carrying the conduit for the lightingfixtures, that post supporting the lighting fixtures and that postsupporting the hand rails. In the preferred embodiment the transversedimensions of the post are two inches by five inches, these dimensionsbeing adapted to accommodate substantially all types of light fixturesand junction boxes. It is contemplated that the post would be used for astair well which is approximately four to six inches wide, the stairwell having two parallel mounting posts extending from the bottom of thestair well to its top, the posts being located at each end of the stairwell. Each post requires only a single bolt at each floor to secure itto the stair well. Since no more mounting posts are required for thehand rails, it can be appreciated that the invention reduces the numberof inserts and bolts applied to inserts by a factor of four to sixteen,depending upon the number of mounting posts of the usual type which aresupplanted by the invention.

The combined effects of the four inch wide stair well and the mountingpost at each end of the stair well eliminates the need for a continuousbend of the stair rails as it passes from one flight to the next inorder to prevent people from falling into the stair well. This featurereduces the cost of forming the stair rails and permits the sair rail tobe manufactured with less complicated bends which can economically beshipped without fear of damage in shipping.

As to the electrical features, it is obvious that the labor andmaterials costs of dropping cable down a straight tube (actually it canbe laid into a U-shaped portion of the tube) of substantial internaldimension is a vast improvement over the present practices, particularlywhen the installation of the conduit for the cable is actually anincident of the installation of the stair rail posts. Further, the allmetal construction of the posts eliminates the need for junction boxesand additional conduit.

As a still further feature of the invention, the post is extruded andgrooves having serrated walls are formed in at least one internalsurface of the post to provide screw threads to receive cable hangers,junction boxes, splicing blocks and the like.

As indicated by the foregoing, it has been. an objective of theinvention to provide for the installation of an attractive and superiorrail and light fixture system at a cost comparable to a cheap inferiorsystem installed by prior art methods and structures.

The several features of the invention will become more readily apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section taken through the stairs of amulti-storied building to illustrate stair rail construction,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View of the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary disassembled perspective view of the invention.

The stairway is indicated generally at 10 and serves to interconnect atbottom floor 11 with succeeding upper floors 12. and 13. Flights ofstairs 14 run from the floors to landings 15 and flights of stairs 16run from the landings 15 to the floors. The space between the flights 14and 16 is the stair well and preferably is about four to six incheswide. At each end of the stair well is a post 20 formed in accordancewith the present invention. Where there is a considerable distancebetween two end posts 20, a central post 21 may optionally be used.Vertically spaced light fixtures 22 are mounted on the posts in such aposition as to shine their light rays principally on the upper and lowersteps of each flight. These light fixtures are connected to cable whichis housed within each column in the manner which will be describedbelow.

The hand rails 23 are secured to the mounting posts 20, and 21 wherenecessary, the hand rails for the flights 16 being mounted on one sideof the posts and the hand rails for the flight 14 being mounted on theother side of the mounting posts. Thus, the mounting posts 21 providethe sole support for the hand rails and it is not necessary to provideseparate stair posts mounted on each flight of stairs.

The mounting posts 26 are secured at each floor level in the stair wellby a single bolt. The post at the left, when viewed in FIG. 1, issecured by bolts 24 at each floor level. Similarly, the posts at theright when viewed in FIG; 1, is secured at each landing by a bolt 25.The center post 21 may be secured at each flight by a single bolt 26.

The details of the post structure are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The post29 comprises a plurality of U-shaped extrusions or housings 313 closedby caps 31, the extrusions and caps being spliced end to end as willappear. The extrusion includes slots 32 on the internal surface oppositethe cap 31, the slots 32 being extruded with serrations which formthreads 33 to which screws may be attached. The post has side Walls 35which are internally shouldered at 36 at one end and at 37 at the otherend. The shoulders 36 provides a space between them which snuglyreceives a splicing block 33 by which U-shaped sections are joined endto end. The shoulders 37 provide a surface engageable by a clampingblock 3% which fastens the cap 31 to the housing 30, the clamping blockbeing secured by screws 40 passing through a hole 41 in the cap 31 tosecure the cap 31 to the U-shaped section. The clamping block islongerthan the internal width of the mounting post so that it is blocked fromturning when the screw 40 is turned.

V-shaped grooves 43 are formed in end surfaces of the walls 35 oppositethe shoulders 37, the V-shaped grooves receiving parallel V-shaped ribs44 extending integrally along the side edges of the cap 31. The grooveand rib combination sets the cap properly on the U-shaped extrusion andprevents it from slipping from side to side. Further, where U-shapedsections of housing 30 are spliced end to end, as shown in FIG. 2, witha splicing block 38 bridging the line of contact 45, there wouldnormally be some tendency for the capped side of the posts to shiftslightly with respect to each other thereby causing an unsightlymisalignment. However, by disposing the joint line 47 of the adjoiningcaps 31 at a position vertically spaced from the joint line 4-5 ofadjacent housings, the cap bridges the joint 45 and the groove and ribcombination prevents the lateral shifting of one U-shaped housingsection with respect to its adjacent housing section.

The hand rails 23 have, in the preferred embodiment, downwardlydepending flanges 50 by which 'they are mounted to the posts 20, theflange 51) having holes 51 through which mounting bolts 52 can pass.Each mounting bolt is threaded into a spacer 53 which is secured to theside wall 35 of the post by a bolt 54. It might be noted at this pointthat all of the work of attaching bolts, splicing posts, installingcable, cable fasteners and the like can be done while the end cap isremoved, the placement of the end cap being the last step in theerection of the structure.

In mounting a light fixture 22 to the post 20, a junction box 57 may ormay not be used depending upon the local electrical code. A junction box57 is shown in FIG. 3 in order to illustrate the capacity of theinvention to provide compliance with the most stringent electricalrules.

Cable 58 is fed to the post 20 at the lowest floor, for example throughconduit 59 (FIG. 2) buried in the floor, the conduit passing through aspacer 6-1 and into the post.

That cable extends upwardly through the post substantially the fulllength of the post and is secured at intervals along the length of thepost by fasteners 61. The fasteners 61 have tabs 62 which are secured bybolts 63 threaded into the serrated slots 32. The junction box 57 has amounting tab 64 fixed to it, the mounting tab being secured to the post20 by bolts 65 threaded into the serrated slots 32. The junction box 57may be provided with a threaded stud 68 adapted to pass through a hole69 in a mounting plate 7% in the light fixture, a nut 71 being employedto secure the plate and the light fixture to the stud 68.

It should be observed that the posts 20 are very easily erected, theerection requiring the use of only a single bolt and spacer at eachfloor and landing level. Across to these bolts is bad through the capend of the posts 20 when the cap is removed. Hand rails 23 are easilysecured to the posts and require no additional support. The post servesas a conduit for the electrical cable 58 which is easily mounted in theposts 20. With the cap 31 removed from the post Zil, the cable canvirtually be laid in its proper position and be secured along its lengthby cable hangers or fasteners 61. Thus, there is no problem of snakingthe cable through vertical and horizontal conduit systems as has beenthe practice prior to the present invention. The mounting posts admit ofthe disposition of the light fasteners at those positions best suitedfor lighting the stairway; namely, the top and bottom steps. From thosepositions they not only shine the greatest amount of light on the twocritical steps but also will light the entire stairway.

I claim:

1. Building structure for a stairway having plural flights of stepsaround a stair Well, said structure comprising,

a continuous hollow mounting post secured in said stair well andextending substantially the entire height of the stair well,

light fixtures mounted on said posts at vertically spaced intervals,

cable disposed vertically inside said hollow post and connected to saidlight fixtures, and

hand rails extending generally parallel to each flight of stairs andsecured to said post.

2. Building structure for a stairway having plural flights.

of steps around a stair Well, said structure comprising a continuoushollow rectangular mounting post secured in said stair well andextending substantially the entire height of the stair well,

light fixtures mounted on said posts at vertically spaced intervals,

cable disposed vertically inside said hollow post and connected to saidlight fixtures, and

hand rails extending generally parallel to each flight of stairs andsecured to said post,

said mounting post having three walls formed by a U-shaped extrusion andon a fourth wall by an end cap secured to said housing,

at least one of said extrusion Walls having serrated longitudinal slot,the serrations providing threads for mounting screws.

3. Building structure for a stairway having plural flights of stepsaround a stair well, said structure comprising,

a continuous hollow rectangular mounting post secured in said stair welland extending substantially the entire height of the stair well,

light fixtures mounted on said posts at vertically spaced intervals,

cable disposed vertically inside said hollow post and connected to saidlight fixtures, and

hand rails extending generally parallel to each flight of stairs andsecured to said post, 7

said mounting post being formed on three sides by a U-shaped housing andon the fourth side by an end cap secured to said housing.

4-. Building structure for a stairway having plural flights of stairszigzagging upwardly and forming a stair well therebetween, saidstructure comprising,

two spaced parallel continuous hollow mounting posts secured at oppositeends of said stair well and extending substantially the entire height ofthe stair Well,

light fixtures mounted on said posts at vertically spaced intervals,

cable disposed vertically inside said hollow post and connected to saidlight fixtures, and

hand rails extending generally parallel to each flight of stairs andsecured to said posts.

5. Building structure for a stairway having plural flights of stepszigzagging upwardly and forming a stair well therebetween, saidstructure comprising,

a continuous hollow mounting post secured in said stair well andextending substantially the entire height of the stair well,

light fixtures mounted on said posts adjacent the upper and lower stepsof each flight,

cable disposed vertically inside said hollow post and connected to saidlight fixtures, and

hand rails extending generally parallel to each flight of stairs andsecured to said post.

6. Structure according to claim in which said mounting post comprises,

a plurality of U-shaped housings in end to end abutment,

splicing blocks bridging the joints between abutting housings andsecured to both housings,

a plurality of end caps closing said housings and disposed in end to endabutment,

the joints between abutting end caps being vertically spaced from saidhousing joints,

and means on said end caps and housings blocking transverse slidingmovement of said caps with respect to said housings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,914,145 11/1959 Benson 52-2353,195,698 7/1965 Codrea 52221 3,206,901 9/1965 Bak'ke 52235 FOREIGNPATENTS 950,321 6 Germany.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

1. BUILDING STRUCTURE FOR A STAIRWAY HAVING PLURAL FLIGHTS OF STEPSAROUND A STAIR WELL, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING, A CONTINUOUS HOLLOWMOUNTING POST SECURED IN SAID STAIR WELL AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THEENTIRE HEIGHT OF THE STAIR WELL, LIGHT FIXTURES MOUNTED ON SAID POSTS ATVERTICALLY SPACED INTERVALS, CABLE DISPOSED VERTICALLY INSIDE SAIDHOLLOW POST AND CONNECTED TO SAID LIGHT FIXTURES, AND HAND RAILSEXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO EACH FLIGHT OF STAIRS AND SECURED TOSAID POST.